Government-Chapter 9

One of the persons represented by a legislator or other elected or appointed official.

The Division of a legislature into two separate assemblies.

The process of establishing the legal rules that govern society.

An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each others bills.

The function of members of Congress as elected officials representing the constituents.

A legislator who acts accordingly to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the views of constituents regardless of personal beliefs.

Personal work for constituents by members of Congress.

A person who hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies.

The process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administered in the way Congress intended.

Determining which public-policy questions will be debated or considered.

A power specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution. The first seventeen clauses of Article I, Section 8, specifically most of the enumerated powers of Congress

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the House.

The use of the Senate's tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill.

The allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each state after each census.

The redrawing of the boundaries of the congressional districts withing each state.

A question that may be raised and reviewed in court.

The drawing of legislative district boundary lines for the purpose of obtaining partisan or factional advantage.

A policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the mail by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage.

A procedure by which a bill in the House of Representatives may be forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration by the House. The petition must be signed by an absolute majority (218) of representatives and is used only on rare occasions.

A permanent committee in the House or Senate that considers bills withing a certain subject area.

A permanent committee in ht House or Senate that considers bills within a certain subject area.

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

A legislative committee composed of members from both chambers of Congress

A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different terms.

A custom followed in both chambers of congress specifying that the member of the majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson (or a holder of some other significant post) is selected

A district that returns a legislator with 55 percent of the vote or more.

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives. The Speaker is always a member of the majority party and is the most powerful and influential member of the House.

A legislative position held by and important member of the majority party in the House of Representatives. The majority leader is selected by the majority party in the caucus or conference to foster cohesion among party members and to act as spokesperson for the majority party in the House.

The party leader elected by the minority party in the House.

A member of Congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the House or the Senate.

The Senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president.

The budget prepared and submitted by the president to Congress